Corn binder



July so, 1935. G, O PALMER 2,009,784

CORN BINDER Filed Oct. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nventm' ee/9e 0Pa/Zmer Attorney July 30, 1935. PALMER 2,009,784

CORN BINDER Filed Ocfh. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 b q Inventor PatentedJuly 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORN BINDER George OwenPalmer, Morrisville, N. Y.

Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,253

T 1 Claim. (01. sis-r02) developed to include a rotary knife equippedcutting means. It is to this particular subdivision of the priorclassification that the present invention appertains.

In reducing the invention to practice and perfecting the principles ofpresent conception I have evolved and produced an arrangement which, Ibelieve, is more satisfactory more practicable and therefore capable oftranscending in importance and eficiency similar prior art devices withwhich it may be compared.

More explicitly stated, and as will be revealed from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, the alleged novelty ispredicated upon the particular construction and adaptation of featureswhich go to make up the corn severing means.

Other features and advantages may become readily apparent from thefollowing description and accompanying pictorial drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Figure l is a top plan view disclosing what may be said to be aconventional corn binder frame structure provided with powertransmission means particularly suitable for driving the improvedcutting mechanism constituting the novc of the instant case.

Figure 2 is a view which may be said to be a side elevational view ofthe rotary cutter or relatively movable part of the improved cuttingmechanism.

Figure 3 is a top plan view on a slightly enlarged scale, of the cutterhead per se.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken approximately onthe plane of the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the relatively fixed or stationary knifeunit.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

By way of introduction it is to be pointed out that the essentialnovelty, as will be hereinafter claimed is illustrated on Sheet 2 of thedrawings. It is understood, however, to enable one to determine thepracticability and relative position of the device with respect to themachine it is advisable to show it associated with what may be describedas a conventional corn binder. Therefore, Figure 1 is utilized for thispurpose and upon referring thereto it will be observed that it disclosesa conventional frame 1 of appropriate type which is wheel supported. Thewheel at one side is denoted by the numeral 8 while the complementalwheel at the other side is differentiated by the numeral 9. The latterwheel is what may be distinguished as the ground traction type. It isemployed, therefore, to supply power to the rotary cutter. The meansemployed to accomplish this result comprises a ring gear it on theinterior of the wheel which serves "to drive a power take-off pinion Hcarried by stub shaft mounted for rotation in an appropriate bearingbracket l2. This stub shaft is provided with a beveled gear [3 meshingwith a complemcntal gear M on a right angularly disposed powertransmission shaft I5. The motion from the shaft I5 is conveyed throughthe instrumentality of additional beveled gears l6 and I], the latterone of which is attached to a suitable shaft to drive the main motiontransmitting gear 18. It is this gear [8 that meshes with the finalbeveled gear I9 constituting an integral part of the rotary cuttingmeans.

Referring now to the rotary cutting means in detail it will be observedthat the relatively movable parts thereof may be denoted as a rotor andthis includes a suitably mounted perpendicular shaft 20 having amultiple bladed head 2|.

'The head is better shown in Figure 3 and by referring to this it willbe observed that it includes a sectional hub 22 made up of complementalparts serving as a mounting for the knife carrier plates 23. There arethree of these plates and they are arranged in circumferentially spacedrelationship and approximately at equi-distant points so as to insurecontinuous cutting operation, It will be noted that each plate is ofsegmental configuration. Moreover, that edge 24 which is locatedadjacent to and cooperates with the knife is of arcuate form. The degreeof ourvature will depend greatly on the diameter of the head as a unit.In any event however, this edge is preferably curved to the degree shownand radiates from the hub in the manner depicted in Figure 3. Associatedwith this edge 24 is the cutting knife 25 and this is riveted orotherwise fastened to the edge and is itself of arcuate formation. It isparticularly important to note this cutting blade is curved in a radialmanner so as to sweep in the corn stalk during the period of rotation ofthe head in order that it may be sheared off without hinderance.Incidentally, in perfecting the principle of operation and constructionherein shown it has been my primary aim to provide a structure whichinsures constant rotary cutting action and one in which the stress andstrain is distributed with the requisite uniformity, Hence, theimportance of this hub, plate and knife arrangement forming the socalledcutting head.

Not only is it necessary to use this especially designed headarrangement, but it is believed essential to employ an appropriatelydesigned companion cutting element. That is to say, the stationary knifeis equally important. This stationary cutter or knife naturally embodiesan attaching plate 26 which is securely fastened at an appropriate pointto the parallel portions of the guide rod 21 of the frame structureshown in Figure 1. Then on the curved edge of this supporting plate isthe arcuate cutting blade 28. Merely for purpose of convenience ofdistinction part 28 is described as a fixed or stationary sheering bladewhile the cutting elements 25 are described as relatively movable"severing or cutting knives. It is evident however, that the rotaryknives spin or turn in a plane to permit them to swing over andcooperate with the sheering blade 28. Consequently as the corn stalksare fed between the guides 27 and against the blade 28 this functionsas'a holding or abutment device and as the cutting knives swing aroundthey sheer the stalk off in an evident manner. The free cutting surfaceof blades 25 are substantially co-extensive with the free cuttingsurface of shearing blade 28 when they are in wiping engagement.

The method of transmitting motion to the cutting head is more or lessimmaterial and as before stated the novelty is directed primarily to thecutting means.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

I claim:

In a stalk harvester characterized by a wheeled frame embodying a pairof spaced horizontally disposed guide bars forming a guide channel forthe stalks the combination of a curved stationary shearing blade securedto the frame and bridging the guide channel, a, rotary cutter includinga vertically disposed shaft mounted on the frame, a hub fixed to theshaft, a plurality of radially disposed circumferentially spacedsupporting plates secured to the hub, cutting blades of a uniformcurvature in a radial direction secured to the leading edge of theplates and projecting forwardly thereof in wiping engagement with theshearing blade, and the free cutting surface of the rotary cuttingblades being substantially coextensive with the free cutting surface ofthe shearing blade when the former are in wiping engagement with theshearing blade.

GEORGE OWEN PALMER.

